to bless them with good government, peace and concord, to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue and the increase of science among them and us and generally to grant unto mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best. george washington's official thanksgiving proclamation, october 14, in the year of our lord, 1789. and here before or as we finish and recess for thanksgiving, the visual day this year proclaimed by this year's president, president barack obama, i am, mr. speaker, profoundly grateful as all these presidents i've mentioned, thankful to god for my blessings. i know they're not earned. there was nothing i ever did in the womb to deserve to be born in the greatest country in the history, but i was blessed because generations before were blessed and it's an honor to rise up and call them blessed for the opportunities that were given us through their devotion and thanksgiving and hard work and acknowledgment to god for our blessings. mr. speaker, i was blessed with an older sister, whom i love. i'm blessed with two younger brothers,